Display device and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A display device and a method of manufacturing the display device are provided. A display device includes: a plurality of first emission areas and a plurality of second emission areas alternately arranged at centers of virtual quadrangles aligned adjacent to each other in a row direction and a column direction; and a plurality of third areas respectively arranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles, and a difference between planar areas of the first to third emission areas is less than 25% of a largest planar area among the planar areas of the first to third emission areas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No.15/944,636, filed on Apr. 3, 2018, which claims priority to and thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0113353, filed on Sep.5, 2017 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entiredisclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Aspects of one or more embodiments relate to a display device and amanufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display device is an apparatus for displaying an image, and, recently,organic light-emitting display devices have attracted attention. Unlikea liquid crystal display device, an organic light-emitting displaydevice has self-emission characteristics and does not require a separatelight source, and, thus, a thickness and a weight of an organiclight-emitting display device may be reduced. Organic light-emittingdisplay devices exhibit high-quality characteristics such as low powerconsumption, high brightness, and high response speeds.

Organic light-emitting display devices include sub-pixels respectivelyemitting light of different colors, and the sub-pixels display an imageby emitting light. Here, a sub-pixel denotes a minimum unit emittinglight in order to display an image. A gate line, a data line, a powerline such as a driving power line for driving each sub-pixel, and aninsulating layer, etc. such as a pixel-defining layer which defines ashape or area of each sub-pixel, may be arranged between adjacentsub-pixels.

An organic emission layer forming a sub-pixel is formed by depositing anorganic emission material by using a mask such as a fine metal mask(FMM). In the case in which an interval between adjacent organicemission layers is designed to be short in order to secure an apertureratio of a sub-pixel, deposition reliability is reduced. In the case inwhich an interval between adjacent organic emission layers is designedto be long in order to improve deposition reliability, an aperture ratioof a sub-pixel is reduced. An aperture ratio of a sub-pixel denotes aratio of an area of an organic emission layer through which light isactually emitted to an entire area of a display area in which an imageis displayed.

Meanwhile, as a demand for an apparatus displaying a high-quality imageincreases, resolution of a display device gradually increases. A displaydevice has, for example, a Pentile sub-pixel arrangement structure inwhich two sub-pixels form one pixel, and an area and a driving currentof an organic emission layer are gradually reduced. Due to a differencein an organic emission material of each sub-pixel, organiclight-emitting diodes of each sub-pixel have different parasiticcapacitances and driving current amounts. Due to differences in aparasitic capacitance and a driving current amount, a sub-pixel of aspecific color may emit light of an intended amount at low brightnessand later.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, a display device hasa high-resolution pixel arrangement structure. According to an aspect ofone or more embodiments, the display device is an organic light-emittingdisplay device, and the pixel arrangement structure is a sub-pixelarrangement structure.

Additional aspects will be set forth, in part, in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to one or more embodiments, a display device includes: aplurality of first emission areas and a plurality of second emissionareas alternately arranged at centers of virtual quadrangles alignedadjacent to each other in a row direction and a column direction; and aplurality of third emission areas respectively arranged at vertexes ofthe virtual quadrangles, wherein a difference between planar areas ofthe first to third emission areas is less than 25% of a largest planararea among the first to third emission areas.

A planar area of each of the third emission areas may be 75% or more ofa larger area from among a planar area of each of the first emissionareas and a planar area of each of the second emission areas.

The display device may further include: a substrate; a pixel electrodelayer over the substrate and including a plurality of first pixelelectrodes, a plurality of second pixel electrodes, and a plurality ofthird pixel electrodes; a pixel-defining layer over the pixel electrodelayer and including a plurality of first openings each exposing aportion of the first pixel electrode, a plurality of second openingseach exposing a portion of the second pixel electrode, and a pluralityof third openings each exposing a portion of the third pixel electrode;a plurality of first emission layers each being on the first pixelelectrode and including the first emission areas corresponding to thefirst openings; a plurality of second emission layers each being on thesecond pixel electrode and including the second emission areascorresponding to the second openings; a plurality of third emissionlayers each being on the third pixel electrode and including the thirdemission areas corresponding to the third openings; and an oppositeelectrode covering the first to third emission layers.

When the display device displays white at maximum brightness, a currentamount supplied to the third emission layer may be 75% or more of alarger current amount among a current amount supplied to the firstemission layers and a current amount supplied to the second emissionlayers.

A planar shape of each of the first emission areas and a planar shape ofeach of the second emission areas may be substantially roundedrectangular rhombuses.

A planar shape of each of the third emission areas may be asubstantially rounded regular octagon, and a distance between the thirdemission areas and the first emission areas adjacent to each other maybe different from a distance between the third emission areas and thesecond emission areas adjacent to each other by less than 5%.

A planar shape of each of the third emission areas may be a roundedregular octagon, and a distance between the third emission areas and thefirst emission areas adjacent to each other may be substantially thesame as a distance between the third emission areas and the secondemission areas adjacent to each other.

A length of each of the third emission areas in a first direction may bedifferent from a length of each of the third emission areas in a seconddirection by less than 5%, the first direction being a directionextending from a center of one of the first emission areas to a centerof one of the third emission areas, the second direction being adirection extending from a center of one of the second emission areas toa center of one of the third emission areas.

A planar shape of each of the third emission areas may be asubstantially rounded rectangular rhombus, and a distance between thethird emission areas and the first emission areas adjacent to each othermay be different from a distance between the third emission areas andthe second emission areas adjacent to each other by less than 5%.

A planar shape of each of the third emission areas may be a roundedquadrangle or a rounded rectangle, and a distance between the thirdemission areas and the first emission areas adjacent to each other maybe substantially the same as a distance between the third emission areasand the second emission areas adjacent to each other.

A length of each of the third emission areas in a first direction may bedifferent from a length of each of the third emission areas in a seconddirection by less than 5%, the first direction being a directionextending from a center of one of the first emission areas to a centerof one of the third emission areas, the second direction being adirection extending from a center of one of the second emission areas toa center of one of the third emission areas.

A ratio of a length of each of the third emission areas in a firstdirection to a distance between the third emission areas and the firstemission areas adjacent to each other may be different from a ratio of alength of each of the third emission areas in a second direction to adistance between the third emission areas and the second emission areasadjacent to each other by less than 5%, the first direction being adirection extending from a center of one of the first emission areas toa center of one of the third emission areas, the second direction beinga direction extending from a center of one of the second emission areasto a center of one of the third emission areas.

A planar shape of each of the first emission areas may be substantiallythe same as a planar shape of each of the second emission areas, and aplanar shape of each of the third emission areas may be different fromthe planar shapes of the first emission areas and the second emissionareas.

A length of each of the third emission areas in a first direction may bedifferent from a length of each of the third emission areas in a seconddirection by less than 10%, the first direction being a directionextending from a center of one of the first emission areas to a centerof one of the third emission areas, the second direction being adirection extending from a center of one of the second emission areas toa center of one of the third emission areas.

From among the plurality of third emission areas, four third emissionareas may be arranged adjacent to and vertically and horizontallysymmetric with respect to a center of each of the virtual quadrangles.

Five hundred or more third emission areas may be arranged within oneinch in a diagonal direction of the virtual quadrangle.

The first emission areas may emit red light, the second emission areasmay emit green light, and the third emission areas may emit blue light.

Each of the virtual quadrangles may be substantially a rectangle or asquare.

According to one or more embodiments, a display device includes: asubstrate comprising first virtual quadrangles and second virtualquadrangles alternately arranged adjacent to each other in a rowdirection and a column direction and having a same shape; a pixelelectrode layer over the substrate and comprising a plurality of firstpixel electrodes, a plurality of second pixel electrodes, and aplurality of third pixel electrodes; a pixel-defining layer over thepixel electrode layer and comprising a plurality of first openings eachexposing a portion of one of the first pixel electrodes and arranged ata center of each of the first virtual quadrangles, a plurality of secondopenings each exposing a portion of one of the second pixel electrodesand arranged at a center of each of the second virtual quadrangles, anda plurality of third openings each exposing a portion of one of thethird pixel electrodes and respectively arranged at vertexes of thefirst and second virtual quadrangles; a plurality of first emissionlayers each being arranged on one of the first pixel electrodes suchthat at least a portion of each of the first emission layers fills oneof the first openings; a plurality of second emission layers each beingarranged on one of the second pixel electrodes such that at least aportion of each of the second emission layers fills one of the secondopenings; a plurality of third emission layers each being arranged onone of the third pixel electrodes such that at least a portion of eachof the third emission layers fills one of the third openings; and anopposite electrode covering the plurality of first to third emissionlayers, wherein a difference between planar areas of the first to thirdopenings is less than 25% of a largest planar area among the planarareas of the first to third openings.

Each of the plurality of first emission layers may include a firstemission area corresponding to one of the first openings, each of theplurality of second emission layers may include a second emission areacorresponding to one of the second openings, and each of the pluralityof third emission layers may include a third emission area correspondingto one of the third openings.

According to one or more embodiments, a method of manufacturing adisplay device includes: preparing a substrate comprising first virtualquadrangles and second virtual quadrangles alternately arranged adjacentto each other in a row direction and a column direction; forming a pixelelectrode layer over the substrate, the pixel electrode layer comprisinga plurality of first pixel electrodes, a plurality of second pixelelectrodes, and a plurality of third pixel electrodes; forming apixel-defining layer over the pixel electrode layer, the pixel-defininglayer comprising a plurality of first openings each exposing a portionof one of the first pixel electrodes and arranged at a center of one ofthe first virtual quadrangles, a plurality of second openings eachexposing a portion of one of the second pixel electrodes and arranged ata center of one of the second virtual quadrangles, and a plurality ofthird openings each exposing a portion of one of the third pixelelectrodes and respectively arranged at vertexes of the first and secondvirtual quadrangles; forming, by using a first mask, a plurality offirst emission layers selectively filling the plurality of firstopenings among the plurality of first to third openings; forming, byusing a second mask, a plurality of second emission layers selectivelyfilling the plurality of second openings among the plurality of first tothird openings; forming, by using a third mask, a portion of a pluralityof third emission layers selectively filling a portion of the pluralityof third openings among the plurality of first to third openings; andforming, by using a fourth mask, the rest of the plurality of thirdemission layers selectively filling the rest of the plurality of thirdopenings among the plurality of first to third openings, wherein adifference between planar areas of the first to third openings is lessthan 25% of a largest planar area among planar areas of the first tothird openings.

A planar shape of each of the first openings and a planar shape of eachof the second openings may be substantially rounded rectangularrhombuses.

A planar shape of each of the third openings may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus, and a distance between the third openingsand the first openings adjacent to each other may be different from adistance between the third openings and the second openings adjacent toeach other by less than 5%.

A planar shape of each of the third openings may be a substantiallyrounded rectangle in which a distance between two sides facing eachother is different from a distance between the other two sides facingeach other by less than 5%, and a distance between the third openingsand the first openings adjacent to each other may be substantially thesame as a distance between the third openings and the second openingsadjacent to each other.

A planar area of each of the third openings may be less than a planararea of each of the second openings and may be 75% or more of the planararea of each of the second openings, and a planar area of each of thefirst openings may be less than the planar area of each of the secondopenings and may be 90% or more of the planar area of each of the secondopenings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of some embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the organic light-emitting displaydevice of FIG. 1, taken along the line II-II;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to another embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the organic light-emitting displaydevice of FIG. 3, taken along the line IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to another embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6D are plan views of a portion of first to fourth masks,respectively, for manufacturing the organic light-emitting displaydevice of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a reference view of the first to fourth masks illustrated inFIGS. 6A to 6D when superimposed; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As the disclosure allows for various changes and numerous embodiments,some example embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in further detail in the written description. An effect and acharacteristic of the disclosure, and a method of accomplishing thesewill be apparent when referring to embodiments described with referenceto the drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to the exampleembodiments set forth herein.

Herein, the disclosure will be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings. For clear description of the presentdisclosure, portions unrelated to the description may be omitted. Whendescription is made with reference to the drawings, like referencenumerals in the drawings denote like or corresponding elements, andrepeated description thereof may be omitted.

It is to be understood that when a layer, region, or component isreferred to as being “formed on,” another layer, region, or component,it may be directly or indirectly formed on the other layer, region, orcomponent. That is, for example, one or more intervening layers,regions, or components may be present. Sizes of elements in the drawingsmay be exaggerated for convenience of explanation. In other words, sincesizes and thicknesses of components in the drawings may be arbitrarilyillustrated for convenience of explanation, the following embodimentsare not limited thereto.

It is to be understood that when a layer, region, or component isreferred to as being “connected” to another layer, region, or component,it may be directly connected to the other layer, region, or component ormay be indirectly connected to the other layer, region, or componentwith one or more other layers, regions, or components interposedtherebetween. For example, it is to be understood that when a layer,region, or component is referred to as being “electrically connected” toanother layer, region, or component, it may be directly electricallyconnected to the other layer, region, or component or may be indirectlyelectrically connected to other layer, region, or component with one ormore other layers, regions, or components interposed therebetween.

It is to be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various components, these componentsshould not be limited by these terms. These terms are used todistinguish one component from another. Throughout the specification,the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include theplural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.When a certain element “comprises” an element, the element does notexclude other elements and may further comprise one or more otherelements unless the context indicates otherwise.

In the accompanying drawings, modifications of illustrated shapes may beexpected depending on, for example, manufacturing technologies and/ortolerances.

Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure should not be construedas being limited to a specific shape of an area illustrated in thepresent specification, and should include, for example, changes of ashape caused during a manufacturing process.

Herein, a sub-pixel arrangement structure of an organic light-emittingdisplay device according to an embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to an embodiment. Forconvenience of description, FIG. 1 mainly illustrates an emission areaof a sub-pixel and a pixel-defining layer defining a shape, a size, etc.of the emission area. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of theorganic light-emitting display device of FIG. 1, taken along the lineII-II of FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an organic light-emitting displaydevice according to an embodiment includes a substrate SUB, a circuitlayer CL, a pixel-electrode layer ELL including a pixel electrode EL1,first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3, an opposite electrodeEL2, and a pixel-defining layer PDL.

The substrate SUB may be an insulating substrate including any of glass,quartz, ceramic, metal, and plastic, for example. In the case in whichthe substrate SUB includes plastic, etc., the organic light-emittingdisplay device may have a flexible, stretchable, or rollablecharacteristic.

The circuit layer CL is arranged on the substrate SUB and may includewirings including a scan line, a data line, a driving power line, etc.,and pixel circuits such as a thin film transistor (TFT) and a capacitor,etc. connected to the wirings. One sub-pixel may include a pixel circuitincluding two or more TFTs and a capacitor and connected to a scan line,a data line, and a driving power line. Two or more TFTs included in onesub-pixel may include, for example, a switching TFT transferring a datavoltage transferred through a data line to a capacitor in response to ascan signal applied through a scan line, and a driving TFT generating adriving current between a driving power line and an emission elementdepending on a voltage stored in the capacitor. The circuit layer CL mayhave any of various known structures, and the pixel circuit may have anyof various circuit arrangements.

The pixel electrode layer ELL including the pixel electrode EL1 isarranged on the circuit layer CL, and the pixel electrode EL1 isconnected to a TFT inside the circuit layer CL. A third emission layerEML3 is arranged on the pixel electrode EL1 illustrated in FIG. 2. Thepixel electrode EL1 on which the third emission layer EML3 is arrangedmay be referred to as a third pixel electrode. In this manner, a pixelelectrode EL1 on which a first emission layer EML1 is arranged may bereferred to as a first pixel electrode, and a pixel electrode EL1 onwhich a second emission layer EML2 is arranged may be referred to as asecond pixel electrode. The pixel electrode layer ELL includes the firstto third pixel electrodes. A planar shape of the pixel electrode EL1 maybe variously designed depending on an arrangement of the pixel circuitinside the circuit layer CL and an arrangement of the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 on the pixel electrode EL1.

The pixel-defining layer PDL is arranged on the pixel electrode layerELL and the circuit layer CL and includes openings OP1, OP2, and OP3exposing a portion of the pixel electrode EL1. A first opening OP1 mayexpose a portion of the first pixel electrode, a second opening OP2 mayexpose a portion of the second pixel electrode, and a third opening OP3may expose a portion of the third pixel electrode.

The first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3 are respectivelyarranged on the respective portions of the first to third pixelelectrodes exposed through the openings OP1, OP2, and OP3 of thepixel-defining layer PDL.

The first emission layer EML1 may be arranged on a portion of the firstpixel electrode exposed through the first opening OP1 and fill the firstopening OP1. The first emission layer EML1, which fills the firstopening OP1, may contact a portion of the first pixel electrode, andemit light of a first color when a current flows therethrough. In thiscase, light of the first color may be emitted from an entire area of thefirst emission layer EML1, and the first emission layer EML1 maysubstantially coincide with the first emission area EM1. Therefore, thefirst emission area EM1 may correspond to the first opening OP1.

The second emission layer EML2 may be arranged on a portion of thesecond pixel electrode exposed through the second opening OP2 and fillthe second opening OP2. The second emission layer EML2, which fills thesecond opening OP2, may contact a portion of the second pixel electrode,and emit light of a second color when a current flows therethrough. Inthis case, light of the second color may be emitted from an entire areaof the second emission layer EML2, and the second emission layer EML2may substantially coincide with the second emission area EM2. Therefore,the second emission area EM2 may correspond to the second opening OP2.

The third emission layer EML3 may be arranged on a portion of the thirdpixel electrode exposed through the third opening OP3 and fill the thirdopening OP3. The third emission layer EML3, which fills the thirdopening OP3, may contact a portion of the third pixel electrode, andemit light of a third color when a current flows therethrough. In thiscase, light of the third color may be emitted from an entire area of thethird emission layer EML3, and the third emission layer EML3 maysubstantially coincide with the third emission area EM3. Therefore, thethird emission area EM3 may correspond to the third opening OP3.

The first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may not respectivelyexactly correspond to the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3depending on cross-sectional profiles of the first to third openingsOP1, OP2, and OP3, and emission materials of the first to third emissionlayers EML1, EML2, and EML3. For example, the first to third emissionareas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may be somewhat wider or narrower than the firstto third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3.

The first opening OP1 of the pixel-defining layer PDL may define aplanar shape, a size, and an area of the first emission area EM1 of thefirst emission layer EML1. The second opening OP2 of the pixel-defininglayer PDL may define a planar shape, a size, and an area of the secondemission area EM2 of the second emission layer EML2. The third openingOP3 of the pixel-defining layer PDL may define a planar shape, a size,and an area of the third emission area EM3 of the third emission layerEML3.

An edge portion of the pixel electrode EL1 may be covered by thepixel-defining layer PDL. The pixel electrode EL1 may be an anodeelectrode serving as a hole injection electrode, or a cathode electrode.The pixel electrode EL1 may include a light transmissive electrode or alight reflective electrode.

The opposite electrode EL2 is arranged on the first to third emissionlayers EML1, EML2, and EML3. In an embodiment, the opposite electrodeEL2 may cover the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3over the entire surface of the substrate SUB. The opposite electrode EL2may be a cathode electrode serving as an electron injection electrode,or an anode electrode. The opposite electrode EL2 may include a lighttransmissive electrode or a light reflective electrode.

Although not shown in FIG. 2, the pixel electrode EL1 may be connectedto a TFT inside the circuit layer CL through a via plug passing throughan insulating layer of the circuit layer CL. A boundary of the openingsOP1, OP2, and OP3 of the pixel-defining layer PDL may be spaced apartfrom a via plug by a certain distance (e.g., a preset distance).

The pixel electrode EL1, one of the first to third emission layers EML1,EML2, and EML3, and the opposite electrode EL2 may configure oneemission element. The emission element emits light at a brightnessdetermined according to a driving current amount by using a drivingcurrent flowing through a TFT connected to the pixel electrode EL1.Since not only required current amounts differ but also emissionefficiencies differ depending on material characteristics respective ofthe first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3, planar areasfor emitting light of intended brightness may differ. For example, in acase in which an emission efficiency of the second emission layer EML2is higher than an emission efficiency of the first emission layer EML1or the third emission layer EML3, a driving current amount required bythe second emission layer EML2 for emitting light of the second colormay be less than driving current amounts of the first and third emissionlayers EML1 and EML3 while a planar area of the second emission area EM2actually emitting light is less than planar areas of the first and thirdemission areas EM1 and EM3 actually emitting light.

FIG. 1 illustrates the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3and the pixel-defining layer PDL including the first to third openingsOP1, OP2, and OP3 respectively corresponding to the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3. Although FIG. 1 illustrates that thefirst to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 respectively correspondto the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3, the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may not respectively exactly coincidewith the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3.

According to another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, which is aplan view of a portion of a plane of an organic light-emitting displaydevice according to another embodiment, and FIG. 4, which is across-sectional view of the organic light-emitting display device ofFIG. 3 taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, a portion of the firstemission layer EML1 may fill the first opening OP1, and the rest of thefirst emission layer EML1 may be arranged on the pixel-defining layerPDL adjacent to the first opening OP1. Only the portion of the firstemission layer EML1 filling the first opening OP1 may contact a portionof the first pixel electrode exposed by the first opening OP1, and emitlight of the first color when a current flows therethrough. In thiscase, only the portion of the first emission layer EML1 may emit thelight of the first color, and the portion of the first emission layerEML1 may correspond to the first emission area EM1. Therefore, the firstemission area EM1 may correspond to the first opening OP1 or the portionof the first pixel electrode exposed by the first opening OP1.

A portion of the second emission layer EML2 may fill the second openingOP2, and the rest of the second emission layer EML2 may be arranged onthe pixel-defining layer PDL adjacent to the second opening OP2. Onlythe portion of the second emission layer EML2 filling the second openingOP2 may contact a portion of the second pixel electrode exposed by thesecond opening OP2, and emit light of the second color when a currentflows therethrough. In this case, only the portion of the secondemission layer EML2 may emit the light of the second color, and theportion of the second emission layer EML2 may correspond to the secondemission area EM2. Therefore, the second emission area EM2 maycorrespond to the second opening OP2 or the portion of the second pixelelectrode exposed by the second opening OP2.

A portion of the third emission layer EML3 may fill the third openingOP3, and the rest of the third emission layer EML3 may be arranged onthe pixel-defining layer PDL adjacent to the third opening OP3. Only theportion of the third emission layer EML3 filling the third opening OP3may contact a portion of the third pixel electrode exposed by the thirdopening OP3, and emit light of the third color when a current flowstherethrough. In this case, only the portion of the third emission layerEML3 may emit the light of the third color, and the portion of the thirdemission layer EML3 may correspond to the third emission area EM3.Therefore, the third emission area EM3 may correspond to the thirdopening OP3 or the portion of the third pixel electrode exposed by thethird opening OP3.

However, the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may notrespectively exactly correspond to the first to third openings OP1, OP2,and OP3 depending on cross-sectional profiles of the first to thirdopenings OP1, OP2, and OP3, and emission materials of the first to thirdemission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3. For example, the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may be somewhat wider or narrower thanthe first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates that planar shapes of the first to thirdemission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3 are substantially the same asplanar shapes of the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 andare greater than the planar shapes of the first to third emission areasEM1, EM2, and EM3 by a certain size (e.g., a preset size), the planarshapes of the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3 maynot be the same as the planar shapes of the first to third emissionareas EM1, EM2, and EM3.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3of the pixel-defining layer PDL may respectively define planar shapes,sizes, and areas of the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3of the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3. An edgeportion of the pixel electrode EL1 may be covered by the pixel-defininglayer PDL.

In a case in which an emission efficiency of the second emission layerEML2 is higher than an emission efficiency of the first emission layerEML1 or the third emission layer EML3, a driving current amount requiredby the second emission layer EML2 for emitting light of the second colormay be less than driving current amounts of the first and third emissionlayers EML1 and EML3 while a planar area of the second emission area EM2actually emitting light is less than planar areas of the first and thirdemission areas EM1 and EM3 actually emitting light.

Although FIG. 3 illustrates that the first to third emission areas EM1,EM2, and EM3 and the pixel-defining layer PDL including the first tothird openings OP1, OP2, and OP3 respectively correspond to the first tothird emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3, the first to third emissionareas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may not respectively exactly coincide with thefirst to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, virtual quadrangles VR aligned adjacent toeach other in a row direction and a column direction are illustrated.Although FIG. 1 illustrates that the virtual quadrangles VR are squares,this is exemplary, and the virtual quadrangles VR may be rectanglessubstantially close to squares or parallelograms substantially close tosquares. Although the following descriptions are made on the assumptionthat the virtual quadrangles VR are squares, the embodiments are notlimited thereto.

A plurality of first emission areas EM1 and a plurality of secondemission areas EM2 are arranged in turns, or alternately, at centers ofthe virtual quadrangles VR. A plurality of third emission areas EM3 arearranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR adjacent to eachother in a row direction and a column direction. Differences betweenplanar areas of the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 areless than 25% of a largest planar area among the first to third emissionareas EM1, EM2, and EM3.

The number of first sub-pixels including the first emission layer EML1and the number of second sub-pixels including the second emission layerEML2 may be substantially the same, and the number of third sub-pixelsincluding the third emission layer EML3 may be twice the number of firstsub-pixels or twice the number of second sub-pixels. However, due toarrangement of sub-pixels at an outermost portion of a display area inwhich an image is displayed, a shape, and a size of the display area, anemission layer of a specific color may be additionally arranged. In thiscase, the number of first sub-pixels and the number of second sub-pixelsmay not be exactly the same, or the number of third sub-pixels may notbe exactly twice the number of first sub-pixels or the number of secondsub-pixels. According to the present embodiment, pixels per inch of theorganic light-emitting display device may be 500 or more. For example,the third sub-pixels including 500 or more third emission areas EM3 orthird emission layers EML3 within 1 inch may be arranged in a diagonaldirection of the virtual quadrangle VR.

The virtual quadrangles VR include first virtual quadrangles VR1 andsecond virtual quadrangles VR2 aligned in turns, or alternately,adjacent to each other in a row direction and a column direction. All ofthe first virtual quadrangles VR1 and the second virtual quadrangles VR2may have the same shape, and may have a substantially square orrectangular shape. The first virtual quadrangle VR1 may be defined as avirtual quadrangle VR in which the first emission area EM1 is arrangedat a center thereof, and the second virtual quadrangle VR2 may bedefined as a virtual quadrangle VR in which the second emission area EM2is arranged at a center thereof.

The first emission areas EM1 may be respectively arranged at centers ofthe first virtual quadrangles VR1. A center of the first emission areaEM1 may substantially coincide with a center of the first virtualquadrangle VR1.

A planar shape of the first emission area EM1 may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the presentspecification, a rectangular rhombus denotes a shape in which a squareis rotated by about 45° and is symmetric with respect to a row directionand a column direction. A planar shape of the first emission area EM1may be a rounded rhombus close to a rectangular rhombus, a chamferedrectangular rhombus, or a rectangular rhombus. In the presentspecification, a rounded rhombus close to a rectangular rhombus, achamfered rectangular rhombus, or a rectangular rhombus is included in asubstantially rounded rectangular rhombus.

The second emission areas EM2 may be respectively arranged at centers ofthe second virtual quadrangles VR2. A center of the second emission areaEM2 may substantially coincide with a center of the second virtualquadrangle VR2. A planar shape of the second emission area EM2 may be asubstantially rounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates that a planar area of the first emissionarea EM1 and a planar area of the second emission area EM2 aresubstantially the same, the embodiments are not limited thereto.According to an embodiment, a difference between a planar area of thefirst emission area EM1 and a planar area of the second emission areaEM2 may be 10% or less. The planar area of the first emission area EM1may be less than the planar area of the second emission area EM2.According to another embodiment, a difference between the planar area ofthe first emission area EM1 and the planar area of the second emissionarea EM2 may be 5% or less. According to another embodiment, adifference between the planar area of the first emission area EM1 andthe planar area of the second emission area EM2 may be 3% or less.

According to an embodiment, a difference between a distance L1 betweentwo sides of the first emission area EM1 facing each other, and adistance L2 between two sides of the second emission area EM2 facingeach other may be about 5% or less. According to another embodiment, adifference between a distance L1 between two sides of the first emissionarea EM1 facing each other, and a distance L2 between two sides of thesecond emission area EM2 facing each other may be about 2.5% or less.According to another embodiment, a difference between a distance L1between two sides of the first emission area EM1 facing each other, anda distance L2 between two sides of the second emission area EM2 facingeach other may be about 1.5% or less.

The third emission areas EM3 may be respectively arranged at vertexes ofthe first and second virtual quadrangles VR1 and VR2 aligned adjacent toeach other in a row direction and a column direction. Centers of thethird emission areas EM3 may respectively substantially coincide withvertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR.

According to an embodiment, a planar shape of the third emission areaEM3 may be a substantially rounded regular octagon as illustrated inFIG. 1. A planar shape of the third emission area EM3 may be a regularoctagon or a chamfered regular octagon, and these shapes may be referredto as a substantially rounded regular octagon.

In the case in which a planar shape of the third emission area EM3 is asubstantially rounded regular octagon, depending on a difference betweena distance L1 between two sides of the first emission area EM1 facingeach other, and a distance L2 between two sides of the second emissionarea EM2 facing each other, a difference between a distance La betweenthe first emission area EM1 and the third emission area EM3 adjacent toeach other, and a distance Lb between the second emission area EM2 andthe third emission area EM3 adjacent to each other may be less thanabout 5%. According to another embodiment, a difference between thedistance La and the distance Lb may be less than about 2%. According toanother embodiment, a difference between the distance La and thedistance Lb may be less than about 1%. The distance La may be defined asa shortest distance between an edge of the first emission area EM1 andan edge of the third emission area EM3, and the distance Lb may bedefined as a shortest distance between an edge of the second emissionarea EM2 and an edge of the third emission area EM3. In an embodiment,for example, both the distance La and the distance Lb may be greaterthan 10 μm and less than 20 μm. For example, the distance La and thedistance Lb may be respectively about 18.43 μm and about 18.35 μm, andthe distance La may be longer than the distance Lb by about 1%.

According to another embodiment, the distance La and the distance Lb maybe substantially the same. For example, both the distance La and thedistance Lb may be greater than 10 μm and less than 20 μm. For example,both the distance La and the distance Lb may be about 18 μm. Forexample, both the distance La and the distance Lb may be about 18.35 μm.The distance La and the distance Lb may be the same as a criticaldimension of a process of forming the first to third emission layersEML1, EML2, and EML3 respectively having the first to third emissionareas EM1, EM2, and EM3. In this case, a planar shape of the thirdemission area EM3 may be a substantially rounded octagon, for example,an octagon, or a chamfered octagon.

Depending on a difference between a distance L1 between two sides of thefirst emission area EM1 facing each other, and a distance L2 between twosides of the second emission area EM2 facing each other, a differencebetween a length L3 a of the third emission area EM3 in a firstdirection and a length L3 b of the third emission area

EM3 in a second direction may be about 5% or less. According to anotherembodiment, a difference between the length L3 a and the length L3 b maybe less than about 3%. According to another embodiment, a differencebetween the length L3 a and the length L3 b may be less than about 2%.The first direction may be defined as a direction extending from acenter of the first emission area EM1 to a center of the third emissionarea EM3. The second direction may be defined as a direction extendingfrom a center of the second emission area EM2 to a center of the thirdemission area EM3. The first and second directions may change dependingon relative positions of the third emission area EM3 with respect to thefirst and second emission areas EM1 and EM2. As a difference between thelength L3 a and the length L3 b exists, a planar shape of the thirdemission area EM3 may be a shape in which a substantially roundedoctagon is crushed or shortened in the first direction or the seconddirection.

According to various embodiments, since a difference between thedistance L1 between two sides of the first emission area EM1 facing eachother and the distance L2 between two sides of the second emission areaEM2 facing each other is small, a difference between a ratio (L3 a/La)of the length L3 a of the third emission area EM3 in the first directionto the distance La between the third emission area EM3 and the firstemission area EM1 adjacent to each other, and a ratio (L3 b/Lb) of thelength L3 b of the third emission area EM3 in the second direction tothe distance Lb between the third emission area EM3 and the secondemission area EM2 adjacent to each other, may be about 5% or less.According to another embodiment, a difference between the ratio (L3a/La) and the ratio (L3 b/Lb) may be about 3% or less. According toanother embodiment, a difference between the ratio (L3 a/La) and theratio (L3 b/Lb) may be about 2% or less. The first direction may bedefined as a direction extending from a center of the first emissionarea EM1 to a center of the third emission area EM3, and the seconddirection may be defined as a direction extending from a center of thesecond emission area EM2 to a center of the third emission area EM3.

According to an embodiment, as a planar shape of the third emissionareas EM3 is a substantially rounded octagon, a distance Lc between thethird emission areas EM3 adjacent to each other may be longer than acritical dimension of a process of forming all of the third emissionlayers EML3 respectively including the third emission areas EM3 by usingone mask, for example, a fine metal mask. For example, the distance Lcmay be greater than 20 μm and less than 40 μm. For example, the distanceLc may be about 32.35 μm.

According to an embodiment, in a case in which planar shapes of all ofthe first and second emission areas EM1 and EM2 are substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombuses, and centers of the first and secondemission areas EM1 and EM2 respectively coincide with centers of thefirst and second virtual quadrangles VR1 and VR2, a distance Ld betweenthe first emission area EM1 and the second emission area EM2 may beconstant in both a row direction and a column direction.

According to the present embodiment, since the distance La, the distanceLb, and the distance Lc may be secured between the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3, not only the first to third emissionlayers EML1, EML2, and EML3 respectively including the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may be formed by using a fine metalmask corresponding thereto, but also deposition reliability may beimproved during a deposition process of using a fine metal mask.Therefore, according to the present embodiment, an organiclight-emitting display device with improved deposition reliability isprovided.

A planar area of the third emission area EM3 may be less than a planararea of the first emission area EM1 and a planar area of the secondemission area EM2. According to an embodiment, the planar area of thethird emission area EM3 may be 75% or more of a larger area among theplanar area of the first emission area EM1 and the planar area of thesecond emission area EM2. According to another embodiment, the planararea of the third emission area EM3 may be 80% or more of a larger areaamong the planar area of the first emission area EM1 and the planar areaof the second emission area EM2.

The planar area of the first emission area EM1 may be 90% or more of theplanar area of the second emission area EM2. According to anotherembodiment, the planar area of the first emission area EM1 may be 95% ormore of the planar area of the second emission area EM2. According toanother embodiment, the planar area of the first emission area EM1 maybe 97% or more of the planar area of the second emission area EM2.

For example, a ratio of the planar area of the first emission area EM1,the second emission area EM2, and the third emission area EM3 may be0.975:1:0.771. For example, an aperture ratio of a first sub-pixelincluding the first emission area EM1 may be about 19.5%, an apertureratio of a second sub-pixel including the second emission area EM2 maybe about 20.0%, and an aperture ratio of a third sub-pixel including thethird emission area EM3 may be about 15.42%.

As an organic light-emitting display device has a sub-pixel arrangementstructure according to the present embodiment, when displaying white atmaximum brightness, that is, displaying full white, a current amountsupplied to the third emission layer EML3 may be 75% or more of a largercurrent amount among a current amount supplied to the first emissionlayer EML1 and a current amount supplied to the second emission layerEML2. According to another embodiment, when the organic light-emittingdisplay device displays full white, a current amount supplied to thethird emission layer EML3 may be 80% or more of a larger current amountamong a current amount supplied to the first emission layer EML1 and acurrent amount supplied to the second emission layer EML2. For example,when the organic light-emitting display device displays full white,assuming that a current amount supplied to the third emission layer EML3is 1, a current amount supplied to the first emission layer EML1 may beabout 1.28, and a current amount supplied to the second emission layerEML2 may be about 1.05.

Unlike the present embodiment, in a case in which the first emissionarea EM1 and the third emission area EM3 are arranged at centers ofvirtual quadrangles VR, and the second emission areas EM2 are arrangedat vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR, and in which the number ofthe second emission areas EM2 is twice the number of the first emissionareas EM1 and the third emission areas EM3, a planar area of the thirdemission area EM3 and a current amount supplied thereto become twice,and a planar area of the second emission area EM2 and a current amountsupplied thereto become ½ times. In this case, a planar area of thethird emission area EM3 becomes about three times a planar area of thesecond emission area EM2, and when full white is displayed, a currentamount supplied to the third emission layer EML3 becomes about fourtimes a current amount supplied to the second emission layer EML2. Whendeviation in planar areas of the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2,and EM3, and deviation in current amounts supplied to the first to thirdemission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3 increase, as the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 are arranged non-uniformly, due to aninterval required between the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2,and EM3, there is a limitation in increasing resolution or pixels perinch of the organic light-emitting display device. Furthermore, as acurrent amount supplied to the second emission layer EML2 is reduced, asub-pixel including the second emission layer EML2 emits light latecompared with other sub-pixels including the first or third emissionlayer EML1 or EML3, and so red or purple may be temporarily displayedunintentionally although white should be displayed.

As the organic light-emitting display device has a sub-pixel arrangementstructure according to the present embodiment, planar areas of the firstto third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3, and current amounts suppliedto the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3 becomerelatively uniform. Therefore, resolution of the organic light-emittingdisplay device may be increased and a problem that red or purple istemporarily displayed instead of white may be resolved. The organiclight-emitting display device according to the present embodiment maydisplay a higher-quality image.

According to the present embodiment, the first emission layer EML1 mayemit red light, the second emission layer EML2 may emit green light, andthe third emission layer EML3 may emit blue light. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto, and the first emission layer EML1 mayemit green, blue, or white light, the second emission layer EML2 mayemit red, blue, or white light, and the third emission layer EML3 mayemit red, green, or white light, and colors of light emitted by thefirst to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3 may be differentfrom one another.

The first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3 may respectivelycorrespond to the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3 of thepixel-defining layer PDL. A plurality of first openings OP1 and aplurality of second openings OP2 are arranged in turns, or alternately,at centers of the virtual quadrangles VR. A plurality of third openingsOP3 are respectively arranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VRadjacent to each other in a row direction and a column direction. Adifference between planar areas of the first to third openings OP1, OP2,and OP3 is less than 25% of a largest planar area of the first to thirdopenings OP1, OP2, and OP3.

The number of the first openings OP1 and the number of the secondopenings OP2 may be substantially the same, and the number of the thirdopenings OP3 may be twice the number of the first openings OP1, or twicethe number of the second openings OP2. However, the number of the firstopenings OP1 and the number of the second openings OP2 may not beexactly the same. Also, the number of the third openings OP3 may not beexactly twice the number of the first openings OP1 or the number of thesecond openings OP2.

The first openings OP1 may be respectively arranged at centers of thefirst virtual quadrangles VR1. A center of the first opening OP1 maysubstantially coincide with a center of the first virtual quadrangleVR1. A planar shape of the first opening OP1 may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The second openings OP2 may be respectively arranged at centers of thesecond virtual quadrangles VR2. A center of the second opening OP2 maysubstantially coincide with a center of the second virtual quadrangleVR2. A planar shape of the second opening OP2 may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates that a planar area of the first opening OP1and a planar area of the second opening OP2 are substantially the same,the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to anembodiment, a difference between a planar area of the first opening OP1and a planar area of the second opening OP2 may be 10% or less, 5% orless, or 3% or less. A planar area of the first opening OP1 may be lessthan a planar area of the second opening OP2. A difference between adistance L1 between two sides of the first opening OP1 facing eachother, and a distance L2 between two sides of the second opening OP2facing each other may be about 5% or less, about 2.5% or less, or about1.5% or less.

The third openings OP3 may be respectively arranged at vertexes of thefirst and second virtual quadrangles VR1 and VR2 aligned adjacent toeach other. Centers of the third openings OP3 may substantiallyrespectively coincide with vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR.

According to an embodiment, a planar shape of the third opening OP3 maybe a substantially rounded regular octagon as illustrated in FIG. 1. Inthis case, depending on a difference between the distance L1 and thedistance L2, a difference between a distance La between the firstopening OP1 and the third opening OP3 adjacent to each other, and adistance Lb between the second opening OP2 and the third opening OP3adjacent to each other may be less than about 5%, less than about 2%, orless than about 1%. The distance La may be defined as a shortestdistance between an edge of the first opening OP1 and an edge of thethird opening OP3, and the distance Lb may be defined as a shortestdistance between an edge of the second opening OP2 and an edge of thethird opening OP3.

According to an embodiment, the distance La and the distance Lb may besubstantially the same. In an embodiment, depending on a differencebetween the distance L1 and the distance L2, a planar shape of the thirdopening OP3 may be a substantially rounded octagon, for example, anoctagon, or a chamfered octagon. A planar shape of the third opening OP3may be a shape in which a substantially rounded regular octagon iscrushed or shortened in the first direction or the second direction.

Depending on a difference between the distance L1 and the distance L2, adifference between a length L3 a of the third opening OP3 in a firstdirection and a length L3 b of the third opening OP3 in a seconddirection may be about 5% or less, about 3% or less, or about 2% orless. The first direction may be defined as a direction extending from acenter of the first opening OP1 to a center of the third opening OP3.The second direction may be defined as a direction extending from acenter of the second opening OP2 to a center of the third opening OP3.Depending on relative respective positions of the third openings OP3with respect to the first and second openings OP1 and OP2, the firstdirection and the second direction of the third opening OP3 may change.

According to various embodiments, since a difference between thedistance L1 and the distance L2 is not large, a difference between aratio (L3 a/La) of the length L3 a to the distance La, and a ratio (L3b/Lb) of the length L3 b to the distance Lb may be about 5% or less,about 3% or less, or about 2% or less.

A planar area of the third opening OP3 may be less than a planar area ofthe first opening OP1 and a planar area of the second opening OP2. Aplanar area of the third opening OP3 may be 75% or more, or 80% or more,of a larger planar area among a planar area of the first opening OP1 anda planar area of the second opening OP2. A planar area of the firstopening OP1 may be 90% or more, or 95% or more, of a planar area of thesecond opening OP2.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a spacer for preventing or substantiallypreventing damage of a surface of a structure generated by a mask usedfor a deposition process of an organic emission material may be arrangedon the pixel-defining layer PDL. The spacer may be arranged between thefirst to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3, and may have acertain height or thickness (e.g., a preset height or thickness), and aplanar shape thereof may be substantially a rectangle or square.

Herein, a sub-pixel arrangement structure of an organic light-emittingdisplay device according to another embodiment is described withreference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to another embodiment. Theorganic light-emitting display device of FIG. 5 is substantially thesame as the organic light-emitting display device of FIG. 1 except for athird emission area EM3′ and a third emission layer EML3′. Descriptionsof same components are not repeated.

FIG. 5 illustrates first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3′respectively including first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′,and a pixel-defining layer PDL including first to third openings OP1,OP2, and OP3′ respectively corresponding to the first to third emissionareas EM1, EM2, and EM3′. Referring to FIG. 5, the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′ respectively substantially coincidewith the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3′. However,this is exemplary, and similarly as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first tothird emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′ may respectively correspond toportions of the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3′.

Referring to FIG. 5, virtual quadrangles VR aligned adjacent to eachother in a row direction and a column direction are illustrated. Thevirtual quadrangles VR may be squares, rectangles substantially close tosquares, or parallelograms substantially close to squares.

A plurality of first emission areas EM1 and a plurality of secondemission areas EM2 are arranged in turns, or alternately, at centers ofthe virtual quadrangles VR. A plurality of third emission areas EM3′ arerespectively arranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR adjacentto each other in a row direction and a column direction. A differencebetween planar areas of the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, andEM3′ is less than 25% of a largest planar area among the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′.

A plurality of first openings OP1 and a plurality of second openings OP2are arranged in turns, or alternately, at centers of the virtualquadrangles VR. A plurality of third openings OP3′ are respectivelyarranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR adjacent to eachother in a row direction and a column direction. Differences betweenplanar areas of the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3′ are lessthan 25% of a largest planar area among the first to third openings OP1,OP2, and OP3′.

In an embodiment, the number of first sub-pixels including the firstemission layer EML1 and the number of second sub-pixels including thesecond emission layer EML2 are the same, and the number of thirdsub-pixels including the third emission layer EML3′ may be twice thenumber of the first sub-pixels or twice the number of the secondsub-pixels. However, the number of the first sub-pixels may be differentfrom the number of the second sub-pixels, and the number of the thirdsub-pixels may not be exactly twice the number of the first sub-pixelsor the number of the second sub-pixels. According to the presentembodiment, a number of pixels per inch of the organic light-emittingdisplay device may be 520 or more. For example, the third sub-pixelsincluding 520 or more third emission areas EM3′ or third emission layersEML3′ within 1 inch may be arranged in a diagonal direction of thevirtual quadrangle VR.

The virtual quadrangles VR include first virtual quadrangles VR1 andsecond virtual quadrangles VR2 aligned in turns, or alternately,adjacent in a row direction and a column direction. All of the firstvirtual quadrangles VR1 and the second virtual quadrangles VR2 may havethe same shape.

The first emission areas EM1 or the first openings OP1 may be arrangedat centers of the first virtual quadrangles VR1. A center of the firstemission area EM1 or the first opening OP1 may substantially coincidewith a center of the first virtual quadrangle VR1. A planar shape of thefirst emission area EM1 or the first opening OP1 may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The second emission areas EM2 or the second openings OP2 may be arrangedat centers of the second virtual quadrangles VR2. A center of the secondemission area EM2 or the second opening OP2 may substantially coincidewith a center of the second virtual quadrangle VR2. A planar shape ofthe second emission area EM2 or the second opening OP2 may be asubstantially rounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Although FIG. 5 illustrates that the first and second emission areas EM1and EM2 or the first and second openings OP1 and OP2 have asubstantially same planar area, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto. A difference between a planar area of the first emission areaEM1 or the first opening OP1, and a planar area of the second emissionarea EM2 or the second opening OP2 may be 10% or less, 5% or less, or 3%or less. The planar area of the first emission area EM1 or the firstopening OP1 may be less than the planar area of the second emission areaEM2 or the second opening OP2. A difference between a distance L1between two sides of the first emission area EM1 or the first openingOP1 facing each other, and a distance L2 between two sides of the secondemission area EM2 or the second opening OP2 facing each other may beabout 5% or less, about 2.5% or less, or about 1.5% or less. Thedistance L1 may be shorter than the distance L2.

The third emission areas EM3′ or the third openings OP3′ may berespectively arranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR. Centersof the third emission areas EM3′ or the third openings OP3′ mayrespectively substantially coincide with vertexes of the virtualquadrangles VR. According to an embodiment, a planar shape of the thirdemission areas EM3′ or the third openings OP3′ may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Planar areas of the third emission areas EM3′ or the third openings OP3′may be substantially the same as planar areas of the third emissionareas EM3 or the third openings OP3 illustrated in FIG. 1. However,since a planar shape of the third emission areas EM3′ or the thirdopenings OP3′ is a substantially rounded rectangular rhombus, a lengthL3 a′ of the third emission areas EM3′ or the third openings OP3′ in afirst direction, and a length L3 b′ of the third emission areas EM3′ orthe third openings OP3′ in a second direction may be reduced by about 7%to about 9% compared with a length L3 a of the third emission areas EM3or the third openings OP3 in the first direction, and a length L3 b ofthe third emission areas EM3 or the third openings OP3 in the seconddirection illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the length L3 a′ and thelength L3 b′ of FIG. 5 may be reduced by about 8% compared with thelength L3 a and the length L3 b of FIG. 1.

Accordingly, a distance La′ between the first emission area EM1 and thethird emission area EM3′ adjacent to each other, and a distance Lb′between the second emission area EM2 and the third emission area EM3′may be reduced by about 5% to about 7% compared with the distance La andthe distance Lb of FIG. 1. For example, the distance La′ and thedistance Lb′ of FIG. 5 may be respectively reduced by about 6% comparedwith the distance La and the distance Lb of FIG. 1. Therefore, when itis designed that the distance La′ and the distance Lb′ are the same as acritical dimension of a process of forming the first to third emissionlayers EML1, EML2, and EML3′ respectively including the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′, the organic light-emitting displaydevice according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 may have higher resolutionor higher pixels per inch than the embodiment of FIG. 1.

In the case in which a planar shape of the third emission area EM3′ orthe third opening OP3′ is a substantially rounded rectangular rhombus,depending on a difference between the distance L1 and the distance L2, adifference between the distance La′ and the distance Lb′ may be lessthan about 5%, less than about 2%, or less than about 1%. The distanceLa′ may be defined as a shortest distance between an edge of the firstemission area EM1 and an edge of the third emission area EM3′, and thedistance Lb′ may be defined as a shortest distance between an edge ofthe second emission area EM2 and an edge of the third emission areaEM3′. For example, both the distance La′ and the distance Lb′ may begreater than 10 μm and less than 20 μm. For example, both the distanceLa′ and the distance Lb′ may be about 18 μm or 19 μm. For example, thedistance La′ and the distance Lb′ may be respectively about 18.78 μm andabout 18.6 μm, and the distance La′ may be longer than the distance Lb′by about 1%.

According to an embodiment, the distance La′ and the distance Lb′ may besubstantially the same. For example, both the distance La′ and thedistance Lb′ may be greater than 10 μm and less than 20 μm. For example,both the distance La′ and the distance Lb′ may be about 18.6 μm. Thedistance La′ and the distance Lb′ may be a critical dimension of aprocess of forming the first to third emission layers EML1, EML2, andEML3′ and thus may be the same. In an embodiment, a planar shape of thethird emission area EM3′ may be a shape in which a substantially roundedrectangular rhombus is crushed or shortened in the first direction orthe second direction. For example, the planar shape of the thirdemission area EM3′ may be a shape in which a substantially roundedrectangle is rotated by about 45°.

Depending on a difference between the distance L1 and the distance L2, adifference between the length L3 a′ of the third emission area EM3′ inthe first direction, and the length L3 b′ of the third emission areaEM3′ in the second direction may be less than about 5%, less than about3%, or less than about 2%.

According to an embodiment, as a planar shape of the third emissionareas EM3′ is a substantially rounded rectangular rhombus, a distanceLc′ between the third emission areas EM3′ adjacent to each other isreduced compared to the distance Lc of FIG. 1. Therefore, the distanceLc′ may be shorter than a critical dimension of a process of forming thethird emission layers EML3′ including the third emission areas EM3′ byusing one mask, for example, a fine metal mask. For example, thedistance Lc′ may be about 29.44 μm. In this case, the third emissionlayers EML3′ may be formed through two processes of using two masks. Amethod of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display deviceincluding the third emission layers EML3′ is described below in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6D.

A planar area of the third emission area EM3′ may be less than a planararea of the first emission area EM1 and a planar area of the secondemission area EM2. According to an embodiment, the planar area of thethird emission area EM3′ may be 75% or more, or 80% or more, of a largerplanar area among the planar area of the first emission area EM1 and theplanar area of the second emission area EM2. As the organiclight-emitting display device has a sub-pixel arrangement structureaccording to the present embodiment, when the organic light-emittingdisplay device displays full white, a current amount supplied to thethird emission layers EML3′ may be 75% or more, or 80% or more, of alarger current amount among a current amount supplied to the firstemission layer EML1 and a current amount supplied to the second emissionlayer EML2.

As the organic light-emitting display device has a sub-pixel arrangementstructure according to the present embodiment, planar areas of the firstto third emission layers EML1, EML2, and EML3′, and current amountssupplied thereto become relatively uniform. Therefore, resolution of theorganic light-emitting display device may be raised, and a problem thatred or purple is temporarily displayed instead of white may be resolved.The organic light-emitting display device according to the presentembodiment may display an image of a higher quality.

According to the present embodiment, the first emission layer EML1 mayemit red light, the second emission layer EML2 may emit green light, andthe third emission layer EML3′ may emit blue light. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are plan views of a portion of first to fourth masks formanufacturing an organic light-emitting display device of FIG. 5.

In an embodiment, the first to fourth masks MSK1, MSK2, MSK3, and MSK4respectively illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6D may be fine metal masks.

The first mask MSK1 illustrated in FIG. 6A is a mask for forming thefirst emission layer EML1 of FIG. 5 and has a first mask opening MOP1corresponding to a location of the first emission area EM1 or the firstopening OP1. The first emission layer EML1 may be formed by depositing afirst organic emission material which has passed through the first maskopening MOP1.

The second mask MSK2 illustrated in FIG. 6B is a mask for forming thesecond emission layer EML2 of FIG. 5 and has a second mask opening MOP2corresponding to a location of the second emission area EM2 or thesecond opening OP2. The second emission layer EML2 may be formed bydepositing a second organic emission material which has passed throughthe second mask opening MOP2.

The third mask MSK3 illustrated in FIG. 6C is a mask for forming aportion of the third emission layers EML3′ of FIG. 5 and has a thirdmask opening MOP3 a corresponding to a location of a portion of thethird emission areas EM3′ or a portion of the third openings OP3′. Aportion of the third emission layers EML3′ may be formed by depositing athird organic emission material which has passed through the third maskopening MOP3 a.

The fourth mask MSK4 illustrated in FIG. 6D is a mask for forming therest of the third emission layers EML3′ of FIG. 5 and has a fourth maskopening MOP3 b corresponding to a location of the rest of the thirdemission layers EML3′ or the rest of the third openings OP3′. The restof the third emission layers EML3′ may be formed by depositing a thirdorganic emission material which has passed through the fourth maskopening MOP3 b.

Referring to FIGS. 6C and 6D, a portion of the third emission layersEML3′ formed by the third mask MSK3 and the rest of the third emissionlayers EML3′ formed by the fourth mask MSK4 are arranged in turns, oralternately, in a row direction and a column direction. Accordingly, aninterval between the third mask openings MOP3 a and an interval betweenthe fourth mask openings MOP3 b are greater than a critical dimensionfor forming the third emission layer EML3′ by using one mask. Therefore,the third emission layers EML3′ including the third emission area EM3′having a planar shape of a substantially rounded rectangular rhombus maybe formed by performing deposition twice by using the third mask MSK3and the fourth mask MSK4.

FIG. 7 is a reference view of overlapped first to fourth masksillustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6D.

Referring to FIG. 7, to represent relative locations of the first tofourth mask openings MOP1, MOP2, MOP3 a, and MOP3 b of the first tofourth masks MSK1, MSK2, MSK3, and MSK4 illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6D,the first to fourth mask openings MOP1, MOP2, MOP3 a, and MOP3 b arerepresented in an overlapping manner.

The first mask openings MOP1 illustrated in FIG. 7 are arranged atlocations respectively corresponding to the first emission layers EML1illustrated in FIG. 5. The second mask openings MOP2 illustrated in FIG.7 are arranged at locations respectively corresponding to the secondemission layers EML2 illustrated in FIG. 5. The third and fourth maskopenings MOP3 a and MOP3 b illustrated in FIG. 7 are arranged atlocations respectively corresponding to the third emission layers EML3′illustrated in FIG. 5.

According to an embodiment, to increase deposition reliability, thefirst to fourth mask openings MOP1, MOP2, MOP3 a, and MOP3 b mayrespectively have larger planar areas than those of the first to thirdemission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′ or the first to third openings OP1,OP2, and OP3′, and may respectively have planar shapes different fromthose of the first to third emission areas EM1, EM2, and EM3′ or thefirst to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3′.

According to another embodiment, the first to fourth mask openings MOP1,MOP2, MOP3 a, and MOP3 b may respectively have substantially the sameplanar shapes and areas as those of the first to third emission areasEM1, EM2, and EM3′ or the first to third openings OP1, OP2, and OP3′.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a plane of an organiclight-emitting display device according to another embodiment.

The organic light-emitting display device of FIG. 8 is substantially thesame as the organic light-emitting display device of FIG. 1 except forplanar shapes of first to third emission areas EM1″, EM2″, and EM3″.Descriptions of same components are not repeated.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pixel-defining layer PDL including first to thirdemission areas EM1″, EM2″, and EM3″, and first to third openings OP1″,OP2″, and OP3″ corresponding to the first to third emission areas EM1″,EM2″, and EM3″. FIG. 8 illustrates that the first to third emissionareas EM1″, EM2″, and EM3″ respectively substantially coincide withfirst to third emission layers EML1″, EML2″, and EML3″. However, this isexemplary, and similarly as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first to thirdemission areas EM1″, EM2″, and EM3″ may respectively correspond toportions of the first to third emission layers EML1″, EML2″, and EML3″.

Virtual quadrangles VR aligned adjacent in a row direction and a columndirection are illustrated. The virtual quadrangles VR may be squares,rectangles substantially close to squares, or parallelogramssubstantially close to squares.

The plurality of first emission areas EM1″ and the plurality of secondemission areas EM2″ are arranged at centers of the virtual quadranglesVR. The plurality of third emission areas EM3″ are respectively arrangedat vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR adjacent to each other in arow direction and a column direction. A difference between planar areasof the first to third emission areas EM1″, EM2″, and EM3″ is less than25% of a largest planar area among the first to third emission areasEM1″, EM2″, and EM3″.

The plurality of first openings OP1″ and the plurality of secondopenings OP2″ are arranged at centers of the virtual quadrangles VR. Theplurality of third openings OP3″ are arranged at vertexes of the virtualquadrangles VR adjacent to each other in a row direction and a columndirection. A difference between planar areas of the first to thirdopenings OP1″, OP2″, and OP3″ is less than 25% of a largest planar areaamong the first to third openings OP1″, OP2″, and OP3″.

The number of first sub-pixels including the first emission layer EML1″may be the same as the number of second sub-pixels including the secondemission layer EML2″. The number of third sub-pixels including the thirdemission layer EML3″ may be twice the number of the first sub-pixels ortwice the number of the second sub-pixels. However, the number of thefirst sub-pixels may be different from the number of the secondsub-pixels, and the number of the third sub-pixels may not be exactlytwice the number of the first sub-pixels or the number of the secondsub-pixels.

The virtual quadrangles VR include first virtual quadrangles VR1 andsecond virtual quadrangles VR2 aligned in turns, or alternately,adjacent to each other in a row direction and a column direction. Boththe first virtual quadrangles VR1 and the second virtual quadrangles VR2may have a same shape.

The first emission areas EM1″ or the first openings OP1″ may berespectively arranged at centers of the first virtual quadrangles VR1.Centers of the first emission areas EM1″ or the first openings OP1″ maysubstantially coincide with centers of the first virtual quadranglesVR1.

The second emission areas EM2″ or the second openings OP2″ may berespectively arranged at centers of the second virtual quadrangles VR2.Centers of the second emission areas EM2″ or the second openings OP2″may substantially coincide with centers of the second virtualquadrangles VR2.

The third emission areas EM3″ or the third openings OP3″ may berespectively arranged at vertexes of the virtual quadrangles VR. Centersof the third emission areas EM3″ or the third openings OP3″ mayrespectively substantially coincide with vertexes of the virtualquadrangles VR.

A planar shape of the first emission areas EM1″ or the first openingsOP1″ may be substantially the same as a planar shape of the secondemission areas EM2″ or the second openings OP2″, and may be differentfrom a planar shape of the third emission areas EM3″ or the thirdopenings OP3″. For example, a planar shape of the first emission areasEM1″ or the first openings OP1″, and a planar shape of the secondemission areas EM2″ or the second openings OP2″ may be a substantiallyrounded rectangular rhombus, and a planar shape of the third emissionareas EM3″ or the third openings OP3″ may be a substantially roundedoctagon or a shape in which a substantially rounded octagon is stretchedor lengthened in a first direction and is compressed or shortened in asecond direction. The first direction may be defined as a directionextending from a center of the first emission areas EM1″ to a center ofthe third emission areas EM3″. The second direction may be defined as adirection extending from a center of the second emission areas EM2″ to acenter of the third emission areas EM3″. Depending on relative positionsof the third emission areas EM3″ with respect to the first and secondemission areas EM1″ and EM2″, the first direction and the seconddirection of the third emission areas EM3″ may change.

The third emission area EM3″ or the third opening OP3″ may be dividedinto a third emission area EM3 a″ or a third opening OP3 a″, and a thirdemission area EM3 b″ or a third opening OP3 b″. The third emission areaEM3 a″ or the third opening OP3 a″ has a planar shape stretching in aright up-left down direction, and the third emission area EM3 b″ or thethird opening OP3 b″ has a planar shape stretching in a left up-rightdown direction.

The third emission area EM3 a″ and the third emission area EM3 b″ may bearranged in turns, or alternately, in a row direction and a columndirection. The third emission area EM3 a″ and the third emission areaEM3 b″ may be vertically symmetric and horizontally symmetric.Accordingly, four third emission areas EM3″ or third openings OP3″adjacent and around the center of the virtual quadrangle VR may bevertically symmetric and horizontally symmetric.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a planar area of the first emission area EM1″or the first opening OP1″ may be less than a planar area of the secondemission area EM2″ or the second opening OP2″. The planar area of thefirst emission area EM1″ or the first opening OP1″ may be 80% or more,90% or more, or 95% or more of the planar area of the second emissionarea EM2″ or the second opening OP2″. A distance L1″ between two sidesof the first emission area EM1″ or the first opening OP1″ facing eachother may be about 90% or more, about 95% or more, or about 97.5% ormore of a distance L2″ between two sides of the second emission areaEM2″ or the second opening OP2″ facing each other.

A distance La” between the first emission area EM1″ and the thirdemission area EM3″ adjacent to each other and a distance Lb” between thesecond emission area EM2″ and the third emission area EM3″ may besubstantially the same. For example, the distance La” and the distanceLb” may be the same as a critical dimension of a process of forming thefirst to third emission layers EML1″, EML2″, and EML3″ respectivelyincluding the first to third emission areas EM1″, EM2″, and EM3″.

In an embodiment, since the distance L1″ is shorter than the distanceL2″, and the distance La” and the distance Lb” are the same, a length L3a″ of the third emission area EM3″ in the first direction may be longerthan a length L3 b″ of the third emission area EM3″ in the seconddirection. The length L3 b″ in the second direction may be 90% or more,95% or more, or 97.5% or more of the length L3 a″ in the firstdirection. A difference between the length of the third emission areaEM3″ in the first direction and the length of the third emission areaEM3″ in the second direction may be less than 10%, less than 5%, or lessthan 2.5%.

According to various embodiments, a display device having ahigh-resolution pixel arrangement structure wherein an interval betweenadjacent emission layers is efficiently set and an aperture ratio of asub-pixel is secured is provided.

Although the disclosure has been described with reference to someembodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is merely provided as anexample, and it is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in theart that various changes in form and details and equivalents thereof maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a plurality of firstemission areas and a plurality of second emission areas alternatelyarranged at centers of virtual quadrangles aligned adjacent to eachother in a row direction and a column direction; and a plurality ofthird emission areas respectively arranged at vertexes of the virtualquadrangles, wherein the smaller of a first distance and a seconddistance is 95% or more of the larger of the first distance and thesecond distance, the first distance being a distance between the thirdemission areas and the first emission areas adjacent to each other, thesecond distance being a distance between the third emission areas andthe second emission areas adjacent to each other.
 2. The display deviceof claim 1, wherein the first emission areas emit red light, the secondemission areas emit green light, and the third emission areas emit bluelight.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein a smallest planar areaamong the first to third emission areas is 75% or more of a largestplanar area among the first to third emission areas.
 4. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein a planar area of each of the third emissionareas is 75% or more of a larger area from among a planar area of eachof the first emission areas and a planar area of each of the secondemission areas.
 5. The display device of claim 1, wherein a planar areaof each of the third emission areas is smaller than the smaller of aplanar area of each of the first emission areas and a planar area ofeach of the second emission areas.
 6. The display device of claim 1,further comprising: a substrate; a pixel electrode layer over thesubstrate and comprising a plurality of first pixel electrodes, aplurality of second pixel electrodes, and a plurality of third pixelelectrodes; a pixel-defining layer over the pixel electrode layer andcomprising a plurality of first openings each exposing a portion of thefirst pixel electrode, a plurality of second openings each exposing aportion of the second pixel electrode, and a plurality of third openingseach exposing a portion of the third pixel electrode; a plurality offirst emission layers each being on the first pixel electrode andcomprising the first emission areas corresponding to the first openings;a plurality of second emission layers each being on the second pixelelectrode and comprising the second emission areas corresponding to thesecond openings; a plurality of third emission layers each being on thethird pixel electrode and comprising the third emission areascorresponding to the third openings; and an opposite electrode coveringthe first to third emission layers.
 7. The display device of claim 6,wherein when the display device displays white at maximum brightness, acurrent amount supplied to the third emission layers is 75% or more of alarger current amount among a current amount supplied to the firstemission layers and a current amount supplied to the second emissionlayers.
 8. The display device of claim 1, wherein a planar shape of eachof the first emission areas and a planar shape of each of the secondemission areas are substantially rounded rectangular rhombuses.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein a planar shape of each of the thirdemission areas is a substantially rounded rectangular rhombus.
 10. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein a planar shape of each of the thirdemission areas is a substantially rounded regular octagon.
 11. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein a planar shape of each of the thirdemission areas is a rounded regular octagon, a rounded quadrangle or arounded rectangle.
 12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the firstdistance is substantially the same as the second distance.
 13. Thedisplay device of claim 11, wherein a length of each of the thirdemission areas in a first direction is different from a length of eachof the third emission areas in a second direction by less than 5%, thefirst direction being a direction extending from a center of one of thefirst emission areas to a center of one of the third emission areas, thesecond direction being a direction extending from a center of one of thesecond emission areas to a center of one of the third emission areas.14. The display device of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of eachof the third emission areas in a first direction to the first distanceis different from a ratio of a length of each of the third emissionareas in a second direction to the second distance by less than 5%, thefirst direction being a direction extending from a center of one of thefirst emission areas to a center of one of the third emission areas, thesecond direction being a direction extending from a center of one of thesecond emission areas to a center of one of the third emission areas.15. The display device of claim 1, wherein a planar shape of each of thefirst emission areas is substantially the same as a planar shape of eachof the second emission areas, and a planar shape of each of the thirdemission areas is different from the planar shapes of the first emissionareas and the second emission areas.
 16. The display device of claim 15,wherein a length of each of the third emission areas in a firstdirection is different from a length of each of the third emission areasin a second direction by less than 10%, the first direction being adirection extending from a center of one of the first emission areas toa center of one of the third emission areas, the second direction beinga direction extending from a center of one of the second emission areasto a center of one of the third emission areas.
 17. The display deviceof claim 15, wherein, from among the plurality of third emission areas,four third emission areas are arranged adjacent to and vertically andhorizontally symmetric with respect to a center of each of the virtualquadrangles.
 18. The display device of claim 1, wherein five hundred ormore third emission areas are arranged within one inch in a diagonaldirection of the virtual quadrangle.
 19. The display device of claim 1,wherein each of the virtual quadrangles is substantially a rectangle ora square.
 20. A display device comprising: a substrate comprising firstvirtual quadrangles and second virtual quadrangles alternately arrangedadjacent to each other in a row direction and a column direction andhaving a same shape; a pixel electrode layer over the substrate andcomprising a plurality of first pixel electrodes, a plurality of secondpixel electrodes, and a plurality of third pixel electrodes; apixel-defining layer over the pixel electrode layer and comprising aplurality of first openings each exposing a portion of one of the firstpixel electrodes and arranged at a center of each of the first virtualquadrangles, a plurality of second openings each exposing a portion ofone of the second pixel electrodes and arranged at a center of each ofthe second virtual quadrangles, and a plurality of third openings eachexposing a portion of one of the third pixel electrodes and respectivelyarranged at vertexes of the first and second virtual quadrangles; aplurality of first emission layers each being arranged on one of thefirst pixel electrodes such that at least a portion of each of the firstemission layers fills one of the first openings; a plurality of secondemission layers each being arranged on one of the second pixelelectrodes such that at least a portion of each of the second emissionlayers fills one of the second openings; a plurality of third emissionlayers each being arranged on one of the third pixel electrodes suchthat at least a portion of each of the third emission layers fills oneof the third openings; and an opposite electrode covering the pluralityof first to third emission layers, wherein the smaller of a firstdistance and a second distance is 95% or more of the larger of the firstdistance and the second distance, the first distance being a distancebetween the third emission areas and the first emission areas adjacentto each other, the second distance being a distance between the thirdemission areas and the second emission areas adjacent to each other.